NEW INFO

Need to renew your books?

Follow these instructions to renew your items online.

2024 Reading Challenge

Looking for a fun and creative way to read your way through 2024? Stop in and pick up a Reading Challenge bookmark or download it here to print at home! Complete 8 of the 12 challenges by December 30, 2024 and choose a gift from our collection. Complete all 12 challenges by December 30, 2024 and you can choose two gifts!

Imagination Station

our_services

When you need reliable, verifiable, quantifiable, accurate information, go where the experts go. INSPIRE offers magazines, books, encyclopedias, and other resources to all Indiana residents.

TumbleBooks are animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they’ll love.

OUR

SERVICES

With more than 1,000,000 titles from 1,000+ publishers, OverDrive hosts the largest digital library catalog of eBooks, audiobooks, music and video in the world.

Create your family tree and discover your family history. Get the MyHeritage DNA kit. Access 9 billion genealogy records including census and yearbooks.

Curb Service is offered to provide materials for patrons with health issues and/or time restraints. Patrons place an order by phone or online and are notified when the order is available to be picked up. Upon arrival, patrons may request that an order be brought out to their vehicle or may stop in the library to pick the order up. Orders may take up to 24 hours to be filled. For more information see "Library" under the Links page.

Wireless Internet is available while at the library. Printable instructions to set up an account can be found on our website's links page, or see a staff member for assistance.

about

ABOUT

OUR LIBRARY

STAINED
GLASS
WINDOW

FRIENDS
OF THE LIBRARY

HOW TO

GET A LIBRARY CARD

The mission of the Wakarusa-Olive, Harrison Township Public Library is to select, acquire and organize materials in a variety of media that record man’s knowledge, ideas and culture. This variety of media/formats shall be such that access to the information will be readily available to any member of the library community. The collection is developed to meet the educational, professional, as well as, the recreational needs of the community. Special emphasis within the collection is placed on the educational needs of preschoolers, school-aged children and adults, thus supporting the community with life-time learning opportunities.

The stained glass window located above the circulation desk was designed to represent the different aspects of our town and why we are distinguished as a community. These are the things that make us unique and at the same time alike and able to form a community.

The window was designed by Bo Inthivong, a community member, manufactured by Kaleidoscope of Lafayette, IN, and financed through memorial donations.

Explanation of the Symbols:

- An open book is the key to knowledge and information.

- The horse and buggy reflect the Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities in our area.

- The white church symbolizes the backbone of our community that influences our town and our lives.

- The maple trees represent our unique celebration of the annual Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival.

- The barn is a testimony to those who work the land and supply our families with food.

- Three butterflies spring from the open book symbolizing the freedom to use the knowledge gained to become whomever you want.

- The pink and white lily represents the Asian culture that flourishes within our expanding community.

- Sunset rays touch every corner of the design joining the many elements and cultures representing our community.

- The white dove at the top and center of the design symbolizes peace and is a reminder of deceased loved ones, who founded this town and helped shape and influence our lives and community.

The Friends of the Library is a non-profit citizen group that volunteers its time to benefit the library. By providing direct financial assistance for materials and equipment, they are able to help support and advocate for the important role of the library in our comunity.

The Wakarusa-Olive, Harrison Township Public Library is open for anyone to use its facilities. Free wi-fi access is available throughout the building. There are computers (with black & white and color printing) available with Internet, word processing, spreadsheet and other software programs. However, only residents or property owners in Olive and Harrison Township can obtain a free library card to check out materials.

To obtain a new library card, please visit the library bringing with you a valid Indiana driver’s license with your current address or a valid Indiana identification card with your current address.

Other acceptable forms of identification are : a United States passport with your current address; mail that you have received at your current address postmarked within the last 30 days; or a utility bill with your current address dated within the last 30 days. You will be given a brief application to complete by library staff and issued your new library card. If you do not live in Olive or Harrison Township, but own property here, bring your current property tax bill receipt to the library to obtain a card.

The Wakarusa Public Library issues reciprocal cards to people who already have library cards in good standing with the following libraries: Bristol Public Library, Elkhart Public Library, Goshen Public Library, Middlebury Public Library, Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library, or Nappanee Public Library.

Non-resident cards may also be purchased at the Library. Please call and ask for details.

124 N. Elkhart St.

PO Box 485

Wakarusa, IN 46573

Phone: (574) 862-2465

Fax: (574) 862-4156

Dial-A-Story: (574) 862-4441

Email: info@wakarusa.lib.in.us